Month: November 2018

St Andrew “the First-called”, Apostle: Missa “Mihi autem nimis“ Saint Andrew, whose feast day is November 30th, is the patron saint for fishermen. Andrew, like his brother, Simon Peter, was a fisherman. He became a disciple of the great St. John the Baptist, but when John pointed to Jesus and said, “Behold the Lamb of God!” Andrew…

Vigil of St Andrew, Apostle; commemoration of St Saturninus, Martyr; Missa “Dóminus secus mare Galilaeæ” Today is the last day of the liturgical year. The day preceding a festival is styled a vigil (from the Latin word signifying a night-watch) because in primitive ages the faithful passed in prayer in the church the greater part…

Feria of the Ultimate Sunday Post Pentecost: Missa “Dicit Dóminus“ In today’s Gospel, Jesus speaks of the “abomination of desolation… standing in the holy place.” Those who read and understand know that this very thing has manifested itself in this period of apostasy which gives us an indication of the very times we are living in,…

St Gregory Thaumaturgus, Bishop & Confessor: Missa “Statuit ei Dominus” Gregory was born to a distinguished pagan family in Neoceasarea in 213. He became a disciple of Origin, and afterward was appointed Bishop of Neoceasarea. Illustrious for his doctrine and sanctity, he was still more memorable for the number and brilliance of miracles he worked, which earned…

Saint Felix of Valois, Confessor and Religious Founder: Missa “Justus ut palma florebit” Saint Felix of Valois was born in 1127 and died at Cerfroi on November 4, 1212. He was surnamed Valois because, according to some, he was a member of the royal branch of Valois in France, according to others, because he was a…

St Catherine of Alexandria, Virgin Martyr; Com. Ultimate Sunday Post Pentecost: Missa “Loquebar de testimonies” The legend of St. Catherine of Alexandria is unsupported by solid historical authority. Devotion to her began in the West about the Eleventh Century and was widely spread by the Crusaders. We have still much to learn about the personality of…

Our Lady on Saturday: Missa “Salve, sancta parens“ The Mass of the Blessed Virgin shows us Mary as Mother of our Savior. She was destined for her role in the history of our salvation (Epistle), for as Eve was the intermediary chosen by the angel of darkness to bring about the fall of Adam, so also Mary…

St Clement, Pope & Martyr: Missa “Dicit Dominus” Pope Saint Clement I, who was styled by St. Paul in his letter to the Philippians (iv, 3) as his fellow laborer,” succeeded St. Cletus as Pope in the year 90. He is named third in the Canon of the Mass, after the apostles. There is no serious…

St Cecilia, Virgin Martyr; Com. Octave of St Edmund, King & Martyr: Missa “Loquébar de testimóniis” It is believed that St. Cecilia was born in the 2nd or 3rd century A.D., although the dates of her birth and martyrdom are unknown. Tradition tells us that Cecilia was a Roman girl of a patrician family who had…

The Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple [Feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary]: Missa “Salve, sancta parens“ In Eastern Orthodox tradition, this is one of the days when women named Mary (Μαρία in Greek) and Despoina (Δέσποινα in Greek) celebrate their Name Day. It was celebrated in the East as early…

St Edmund, King & Martyr: Missa “In Virtute Tua” St Edmund was king of East Anglia from about 855 until his death. Almost nothing is known of Edmund. He is thought to be of East Anglian origin and was first mentioned in an annal of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, written some years after his death. His kingdom was…